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Feb. 23, 2005 “20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (I John 2: 20-27) In a recent e-mail conversation, the question arose as how I can be so sure God exists without physical “proof”. My assurance of God and my trust in the promises of scripture are based solely on what God has accomplished in me and for me. I know what I was, before what I became. I held the agnostic view. I had been raised in a religion but held no particular view on that religion’s teachings or doctrines. When I was permitted to make up my own mind concerning what I was learning, I chose to leave religion; believing I did not need to concern myself with eternal matters. I was happily agnostic for roughly 8 years; from age 14 to age 22 when I met the woman I would marry and raise a family with. She had a strong, independent and personal faith in Jesus Christ. That was new, different, strange and undesirable to me; but if my wife wanted to read the bible, go to study, go to church and do the religious thing, that was okay. I even went with her once in a while; especially when the food was free. Then was the evening I had a conversation with God; asking for his forgiveness and my salvation. I explained to God that his book made sense to me concerning eternity and that I wanted to learn more. In the 30 years since God has given me a great deal of knowledge as to just what happened on that evening in 1975 when he permitted his Holy Spirit to indwell me. And that happened in New Jersey, of all places! Seriously though; the scripture above explains it better than I can. Every “born again” person of faith has the “unction”. The indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Jesus told his disciples that when he would go away, he would send “another Comforter” to teach all things and bring all things to their remembrance. What we have in the New Testament revelations and letters is what the Lord gave the Spirit to speak to the writers. You either accept that, or reject it. I personally accept it. The anointing that we have is a permanent one. The Holy Spirit does not leave the believer. The believer can quiet the Spirit and can even ignore the promptings of the Spirit when there is a desire to commit sin. Even Paul the Apostle admitted there were things he did he knew he shouldn’t have been doing. John says he is writing to those that know the truth. He is not trying to explain a spiritual concept to someone who rejects the truth. There is a lie, and there is a truth. Those that have the indwelling Spirit know the difference. So, that is how I can be so sure. That is how I know there is a God and that he sent his son to bring men into an eternal relationship with him. John was one of the disciples that personally witnessed the miracles of Jesus. He was present at the feet of the resurrected Jesus, and finally, at the ascension of Christ on the Day of Pentecost. His eyewitness testimony has been handed down to this age so that a new generation may understand and believe. I believe myself fortunate to be part of that generation. ------------ About the Author: Michael John McCrae, husband to Linda for 30 years (and counting); Dad to Susan, Thomas, Timothy, David and Benjamin; Granddad (Guy) to Justin and Megan; has contributed over 300 articles to Useless-Knowledge.com. He writes from a politically conservative point of view and a Judeo-Christian cultural background that includes over 30 years of Biblical study. Michael served in the United States Armed Forces from January 1971 until August 2002, retiring honorably after 30 years of duty in the Army. He is currently working as a contractor in support of the Armed Forces in the Middle East. Michael John McCrae is a fellow with an opinion, and a desire to express it. He does that here. He writes an occasional poem too. Email: macswordV@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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